 What does it mean to cast lot? Is it gambling? Is it sinful? Or is it biblical? Something that's mentioned in the Bible from time to time is this term, this phrase, this statement, casting lots. What does that mean? Well, the truth is we're not totally sure how it was actually done, what was used. Maybe there were different ways to go about doing it. But what it seemed to have been was in some ways a game or a object of choice. And it could have been sticks, it could have been something painted some painted cards, it could have been diced, it could have been stones. It, I think it varies from culture to culture. There's no, it doesn't sound like there's one uniform way to go about doing it. But the thing is though, it seemed to be a way that they would determine something without their, without the possibility of it being anything rigged. And so matter of fact, for an example, let's go to Proverbs 18, 18. It says the cast lot puts an end to strife and decides between the mighty ones. In other words, if you cast a lot, let's say if it is diced, let's say if it is drawing straws or something like that, who has the longest straw? Again, we're not totally sure exactly how this works, but it was something where no one can say, hey, you cheated because something outside of you and I or the parties involved, something else decided. And so whatever it landed on was whatever it landed on. Now the question is, is this something that God prefers to do? Is this God's preferred means of doing things? Well, first of all, let's go to Proverbs 16. Because in 18, we're not sure if he's saying that that's what he wants to be done or this is just how the culture was. But in 1633, we get a little bit more of an explanation. The lot is cast into the lap, but is every decision is from the Lord. In other words, whatever God wants, he can use that cast lot for his decision. Now, does that mean that every time a dice is rolled, a straw is drawn or anything like that, some lots are cast? Does that mean that God is in every decision? No, it does not. If a pagan is in the middle of casting lots or whatever or rolling dice or stones or what have you, does that mean that whatever it lands on, whatever the decision comes about by that cast lot, does that mean that God is behind that? No. When God would have them do so, God would have them do so so that they could kind of see that it's God. Because for them, the Jews and for us as believers, and I'm not saying that believers ought to be doing so, but we do see it a couple of times in the scriptures in the New Testament, one from unbelievers and two from believers where they do so. One time, it's not God has nothing to do with this. The other time, God is in the midst of this. And so if the believer is doing so, if the Jew is doing so, then he's doing so with the hope, with the belief that God is gonna cause it to work out the right way. So whatever it lands on, and the belief is that God was behind that, or it's just a game of chance. One example of them casting lots, and this is not God in the midst of this, but it's just stated as a point of fact what was happening in Matthew 27, 35, they are casting lots for Jesus's closest. And when they had crucified him, they divided up his garments among themselves by casting lots. And so if this was them drawing straws or rolling dice or what have you, we don't know, but they cast lots. Again, we don't know what the lots were, but this was by choice, I mean by chance. And so no one could argue well, you cheated me, no, we cast lots and however the lots fail was however the lots fail. However though, there are times where we see that the lots cast would work in favor for God's people. We see that also in the book of Esther, but then we also see it here in Acts 1, 20, let's start in verse 23. They're getting ready to choose a new disciple and apostle to replace Judas. And so what does they say in Acts 1, 23? So they put forward two men, Joseph called Prasabas and Matthias, and they prayed and said, now look what it says, you Lord who know the hearts of all men show which one of these two you have chosen. So in this case is God that's choosing. He says, which one of these you have chosen to occupy this ministry and a apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. And they drew lot for them. And this word here for drew is they had, they drew all they drew. And so this seems to be maybe they are drawing straws. Sometimes it's casting, they're throwing. So it looks like the lots can vary how they do it. But again, it's a game of chance, but in this case, God is actually involves this. And so in this case, they drew lots and then look how God chooses. They drew lots for them and the lot failed to Matthias and he was added to the 11 apostles. Remember it says earlier you have chosen. So it says, you know the hearts of men show which one of these two you have chosen. So in this case, they're drawing lots, but it's ultimately God is gonna be the one that's going to decide. So he causes it out and that makes sense because he's got, he can cause anything to happen. If it's dice, if it's drawing straws, if it's sticks, whatever it is, if it's some sort of stones, what have you, whatever God wants to be, he'll make it be. But do I think that it's a sin to do so now? If we are doing something that's just harmless fun and we're not taking advantage of people or things like that, it's a game. There's nothing wrong with that. But if we're doing so and we're making decisions and we haven't consulted the Lord, that's where it becomes a problem. Now we're leaving, especially for leaving a godly decision up to a game of chance and we haven't consulted the Lord because we don't see a command for us to draw straws or to cast lots or what have you. We don't see that command. Does that mean that gambling in and of itself is a sin also? Well, that will be a study for a different time. Do I think that this is gambling? No, this isn't gambling, although they did use casting lots as a system to gamble. But in this case, I would say rather than doing that, it would probably more appropriate to just pray and then also consult other brothers and sisters in the Lord to consult your leadership team around you, your family and then be led in that regard rather than casting lots. So I hope this has been helpful. Let me know what you all think in the meantime. Be blessed.